Tech Tips and Tricks & Advice – written in plain English.

Folks, in case you don’t know, The Consumer Electronics Show is where companies bring out new technology products.. it’s a chance to look into the future. And also a chance to see what the big brains think we (the ‘average consumer’) want.. or will want someday.

Not only do I NOT want any of this.. I really wish they weren’t developing it. Half of it has kinda scary implications.. But, here you go –> Your glimpse into the future is here:

Folks, the tech industry is talking about upcoming “improvements” to Windows 10. Which of course is an indicator of the evolution of our devices.. and what the big brains at the billion dollar companies think we want..

“A look at the most significant changes due to hit Microsoft’s evolving OS in the coming year.” Read more..

Okay.. I don’t want ANY of that. Do you? (Are you ‘eagerly anticipating’?) Would you even call these ‘improvements’?

The only one I think worthy of mention is for a browser I’ll never use.

I’m going to replace my desktop with a phone..? I guess marijuana is legal in the State of Washington? Cuz they gotta be high.

… It’s like they spend so much time in their labs, they have a complete disconnect with human psychology.. The numbers telling them that people are desperately clinging to Windows XP and Office 2003 must utterly baffle them.

“The law forces UK internet providers to store browsing histories — including domains visited — for one year. Not only that, the law also gives the intelligence agencies the power to hack into computers and devices of citizens.” Read more..

“A new rootkit family, dubbed Umbreon after a character in the popular Pokémon game who hides in the night, has been detected targeting Linux users, according to a Monday post by Trend Micro researchers.” Read more..

[ Don’t know what a “rootkit” is? You really should by now. No excuse, actually. Go to Wikipedia right now! ]

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Today’s quote: “Since our society equates happiness with youth, we often assume that sorrow, quiet desperation, and hopelessness go hand in hand with getting older. They don’t. Emotional pain or numbness are symptoms of living the wrong life, not a long life.” ~ Martha Beck

An ALERT! for you folks who own Microsoft Windows PC’s. And you should know by now, “ransomware” is that (type of) hacker virus that makes you pay to get your files back. Please pass this item on to your friends and loved ones.

And.. to counteract all the bad news in the tech world, how about a dose of relief? (And yes folks, there’s enough of it that I am becoming thoroughly ‘anti-technology’ :( .)

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Today’s quote: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~ Leo Buscaglia

“They would have been able to turn on his iPhone’s camera and microphone to record Mansoor and anything nearby, without him being wise about it. They would have been able to log his emails and calls — even those that are encrypted end-to-end. And, of course, they would have been able to track his precise whereabouts” Read more..

I hope Apple owners no longer think they’re immune from this “viruses” stuff… ‘cuz they ain’t. If it has an operating system, it can be ‘hacked’.

Today’s quote: “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” ~ Ashley Smith

• About Tech Paul

I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.

I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.

Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.

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